Best Battery Chainsaws
DeWalt 18V XR Pole Saw DCMPS567N-XE
I have found the DeWalt Pole Saw a fantastic adjunct for my garden. It is reliable, ergonomic to use and really efficient for getting up to those hard to reach branches. Thankyou DeWalt Show details
Ryobi 18V Brushless OCS1830BL
I was going to say this saw must’ve been designed by someone who’s never even seen a chainsaw before, but that’s too kind. No, this atrocity was… Read more
clearly crafted by someone who knew exactly what a chainsaw should do, and then made the conscious decision to make it do the complete opposite out of sheer spite. The chain tensioner? A sadistic joke. A labyrinth of plastic nonsense so over-engineered it could probably qualify for a PhD in uselessness, and yet it still can’t hold a chain tight for more than three seconds. The motor? Pathetic. It struggles harder than a dying mosquito. You could yell at a tree and get better cutting power. And the oiler? Don’t make me laugh. It doesn’t oil the chain - it oils you. Every squeeze of the trigger just baptizes your hands in disappointment and regret. I wouldn’t wish this saw on my worst enemy. If given the choice between using this sorry excuse for a tool or gnawing through an Ironbark with a single, loose tooth, I’d sharpen the tooth and get to work. Because at least that would be faster, quieter, and far less humiliating.
EGO Power+ CS1805E
A year ago I sold my Stihl MS251, not because I was unhappy with it, but because I somehow couldn't tolerate the exhaust fumes anymore. Before… Read more
cyclone Alfred I needed to do some clearing around my long power line, and I felt sick for several days afterwards. This was when I decided to sell the saw and go battery powered. I did my research, and while Stihl also has battery saws, I couldn't justify paying an extra premium for the name after I had read/watched whatever review I could find for the EGO saw and found that literally everyone praised it. And so I ended up buying it, and the change-over only cost me $200. I immediately upgraded the saw with a tungsten-carbide chain from ToughMAX, and a year later I couldn't be happier with my decision. The saw is at least as powerful as the Stihl I had, but quiet and no toxic fumes. Cuts through hardwood like butter. Only runs when you need to cut. Doesn't need to be started. Doesn't need servicing. No need to keep a separate jerry can for the two-stroke mix. Tensioning the chain is super-easy. And the TC chain doesn't even need to be sharpened. If you have two 5 Ah batteries you can go on forever, as a battery would normally last for at least 45 min of work, and in that time you can easily re-charge the second one. Absolutely fantastic saw for the price. I highly recommend it.
Makita DUC254Z
Great little saw – Awesome little saw i use it all the time nice and light and powerful enough to do the job. Love the fact that it can do what my petrol 12” saw can do Show details
Makita DUC302Z Cordless Chainsaw
Almost too easy to use – I have 3 chainsaws - 2 are petrol (62cc and 32cc). The Makita is the one I always go to first. I think that is mainly because it's cordless - no… Read more
mixing fuel and it's quiet. But the 302 is also great. Heaps of power and good build quality.
It's better suited to pruning than cutting stuff on the ground. The battery weight is at the back - so I find I use my wrists to put a bit of pressure on the chain. It gets tiring. The bigger cordless saws have the batteries in the middle.
It's such a light, quiet and easy saw to use that I worry about my safety. For the petrol saw, I always put on chaps, helmet, gloves, boots etc. It's so easy to quickly grab the Makita that I often don't bother with safety gear (although I always throw on safety glasses). And occasionally I find that I am only using one hand - yikes! I wouldn't dream of doing that with the petrol saws. But that's not the Makita's fault.
Stihl MSA 160 C / MSA 160 C-BQ
Avoid – Owned this for approx 2 years, very limited usage - probably used less than a dozen times for light duties (kindling and pruning). Motor failed, got… Read more
nothing but shrugs from my local dealer where I bought it (Wrights Nowra) with no recourse but a motor replacement at my expense which is close to the cost of replacing whole unit. Premium price tag but poor quality product with even poorer response from local dealer and Stihl when something went wrong.
Makita DUC400 18Vx2 Brushless Chainsaw
It is ok but some very annoying design choices First design flaw is when you turn it on the saw switches itself off after about 3 seconds. This is a… Read more
programmed choice by makita but it means you are continually turning it on
Second is the chainspeed is good but the saw bogs down and stops in hardwood. It is tedious to use in hard timber
Hikoki Cordless Chain Saw CS3635DB(H4Z)
Ideal in the garden – Does the job and not too expensive.... a great little widget.
Gotta say, if you're just after a small easy to handle chainsaw this might be what you're looking for. This thing really is impressive. I bought it… Read more
for doing Landcare clearing of woody weeds maybe a few hours a week. It rips thru everything and does so with a very nice neat cut, which surprized me. The thickest tree was about 100mm and no probs at all, it's actually very satisfying to use. I took 3 batteries with me today and started with the flattest battery. I didn't even have to swap batteries, just used one semi-flat battery and it was still going. For larger jobs I'd get the next model up with built-in oiler and no tool chain tensioner, but for around the yard it's all you'll need, so save your money! It's really good! PS: After using this to for a while, having the motor in the handle is a fantastic idea as quite often you'll be cutting branches at the division and if the motor sticks out sideways, as with some cheaper brands, it can get in the way of your cut. Otherwise make sure the motor is inline with the tool like the next model up i referred to.
AEG 18V/58V 254mm Pole Saw Attachment APP10
Great attachment – Great for high reaching branches. Cuts through green Australian hardwood no problem even up to +/- 100mm. The hook is also handy for freeing branches… Read more
that get caught up on the way down. From what I understand, you need to purchase the bar and the chain when replacing the chain, and I wonder what the cost would be???
Victa Vforce+ 40Volt
Best chainsaw ever – unbelievable that a battery powered chainsaw has so much power. dont have to muck around with mixing fuel, i have 2 batteries and i can fill my gator… Read more
tray full of wood. Ive cut 16" cuts. Its light weight and i can cut high limbs one handed. I have 3 other chainsaws that now just sit in the shed. 5 STARS
Ego Power+ CS1400E
Chainsaw good for the Ego – Ive got 2acres of botanic garden. Used to a Stihl 039. I bought the 350mm chainsaw to have something lighter for the wife and for bit more agility… Read more
when pruning smaller stock etc. Chain tends to jump out of bar track often no matter how tight I tune the chain. Mostly a technique thing I think due to much smaller chain. The power is great and batteries last as expected. I had a couple of very large hardwood eucalypt branches go down recently and this little unit chewed through it no problems wen tthorugh a couple of battery charges. Ive since purchased multi tools and blower. This gear will be put through it's paces on ,my place. It appears to be handling it well. Great not to muck around with fuel.
Stihl MSA 220 C-B
- See all
I had a good petrol Stihl chainsaw that broke down. I own a battery Stihl chainsaw on a pole, so the logic purchase was a Stihl MSA 220C. I couldn't… Read more
be more unhappy with it. The adjustment of the tension of the chain is impossible. The wheel on outside to adjust the tension is a joke and not workable. So you have to take the cover off and adjust the wheel underneath. The chain constantly comes off. Hence you tighten it more and then the chain doesn't move because of lack of power. The material is all flimsy. I jammed my chainsaw and to get it free I had to use another one. Hence the chainsaw dropped on the ground. My mistake, but same happened lots of time with my old saw. The plastic MSA 220C broke. I could remove the broken plastic and can still use it, but it shows how flimsy and bad the plastic is, including the power button. Definitely will be my last STIHL product.
Bosch 12V Cordless Easy Cut 06033C9040
Disappointing – Began stalling after limited use. Returning after one month. Chain protection at end of saw is a nuisance.
Ozito PXC 18V PXCCSK-418
Battery lets it down – Light, easy to use but the batteries are of such poor quality! If you don’t use it fir say 12months the battery(s) are guaranteed to fail. Replacement battery is ridiculous price! Show details
Good for light jobs but no serious tree cutting. The worst feature is the fact that when the job is complete if you do not drain the chain… Read more
lubricating oil out it will over time leak out leaving a puddle of oil to clean up. Even depressurising the tank does not prevent this.
Stihl MSA 60 C-B
Stihl MSA60C Battery Chainsaw. So, I was after a smaller sized easy to use chainsaw to do quick pruning around the garden and cut logs for… Read more
fireplace. I own a Stihl MS251C 2 stroke chainsaw which is great for heavier jobs but it's a bit more work to get out for a quick job. Initially I looked at the Stihl GTA26 hand held pruner at $Au279 but was a little worried that you had to manually oil the blade for lubrication and it's really scaled at a smaller scaled specifically designed use. I then had a look at the MSA60C which looked pretty nice with its compact size and lightweight. Luckily I also owned the fabulous Stihl BGA60 blower so already had an AK30 battery on hand. The skin for an MSA60C was $Au399 so I thought it to be the best compromise for size efficiency over performance over practicality over price.
Anyway I've used the MSA60C a few times now and it's absolutely brilliant for cutting any mid sized logs for the fire place. It runs so much quieter than a petrol chainsaw and using the MSA60C doesn't really hook into the AK30 battery charge that much as well. The wife even got it out and used it where she wouldn't even think about pulling out our petrol one before. The MSA70C skin was $Au100 more expensive with supposedly the same motor with 25% more power but the MSA60C is all I think you'd really need as it doesn't at all falter in use. A truly superb tool you'll be stoked to have.
AWESOME 18V PRUNING CHAINSAW! I'm very impressed with this little handheld pruning chainsaw. Being small and just 18V, I thought it would struggle a… Read more
little, particularly with a native hardwood tree that was about 4 metres tall. I originally intended to use it just on the outer branches, but this little chainsaw effortlessly took down 95% of the entire tree. It's really easy to handle due to its small size, and I was able to easily cut through branches 150mm thick with a little up/down and around motion with the blade. It's an awesome little chainsaw, highly recommended.
Ryobi 36V Brushless RCS36B1
More than Cogs’n’Chains – G’day! Back from the hidden cave, have I got a great little story for you! Usually I’d stay below ground with all the other hidden Ryobi gear I’ve… Read more
got stashed away, but I had to come up for a visit to Bunnings on this occasion. I’m sure you know the feeling - if you don’t get that weekly trip to Bunnings, the week just isn’t complete.
Before the weekly trip, I had to knock over a bit of tree-lopping. Can’t let those Gum’s get too far before a bit of a tree-shave, y’know! Out with the Ryobi 36v 14” Chainsaw, out with the bar oil, bring on the old Ryobi 36v battery.
“Righto, it’s you and me, tree”. Then… to my horror… half way through the 5th branch… click click click! “Well I’ll be buggered”, I did say! The ol’ battery is goneski! I have to say, about 7 years of honest service on 92% of the Ryobi 36v range is a pretty solid effort. I had a little tear leak out of my left eye. Looking everywhere for a siliver lining, I wiped my eye and had a think... “Well I guess the trip to Bunnings has come early”!
Loaded up, “fire in the hole” the old Land Rover chugged to life - we’re off! In and out after taking a look around all but the dunny. So the lovely new 4aH battery, a few nuts and bolts, and a bit of timber, let’s go try out that fancy new battery!
Whipped out of the box (with the bonus additional charger, I might add!) I lovingly removed and charged the new battery, then pulled it straight out for a test-run. Picture a 6 year old boy with a new train set!
In she goes (the new Ryobi 36v 4aH battery, not the minister of war and finance!) and Houston - WE HAVE A PROBLEM! I’ll be… the son of a biscuit doesn’t fit into the chainsaw! Who would have thought? And we’re not talking “she’s a big old battery, this one”… no no… the new 4aH 36v battery was less than a mosquito whisker too big to fit into the bugger! You could slip a feeler-gauge in there and give it a good flogging, but she was just too big for the old Ryobi 36v 14” Chainsaw’s filler port. I even took a happy-snap of this one - you wouldn’t believe it!
I pulled up for a breath and asked myself “what would Albo (y’know, the new PM) do”? Of course, I had to be diplomatic about it. On one side I have a beaut ol’ Chainsaw that has been a reliable old unit since about 1948 (ok, maybe it was 2017), and on the other side I’d just laid down a solid few-hundred for this brand-spankers new battery. “I’d best rip out the computer and email Ryobi about this one I think”, and so I did.
As the days passed, I could sense the tension and anguish approaching. I was losing hope that I could talk to the Auzzie Jedi-Master aka Ryobi Tech, but thankfully I opened up the Computer one fine morning soon after to be greeted with a response by Ben. “Send us a few pics and we’ll have a look at what we can do”, he wrote (or words to that effect). A pair of emails back and forth, to my surprise Ben told me to head in to Bunnings with a copy of the email and they’ll take my old Ryobi 36v 14” Chainsaw, and replace it with a brand-spankers Ryobi 36v 14” Chainsaw. The difference between the two (says Ben) is the location of the battery holder on the saw. Apparently the design change was to accomodate the new “bigger” batteries.
So, leaving Bunnings a very satisfied customer, I headed home with the Ryobi RCS36B1 36v Chainsaw! Happy as a pig in … well … it!
Time for a test-drive, now the emotional stuff is all complete. Saw - Check! Bar oil - Check! Blade tension - Check! 4aH battery - BINGO!! Like picking the winning Keno numbers at the local waterhole, we were in business!
Sawing away merrily (as you can see in these pictures), the new Ryobi RCS36B1 36v Chainsaw was showing the skill of a mountain goat.
Good and bad points you ask? Yeah it’s got them. You be the judge!
It’s a saw that holds its own in the mid-size saw range. Ryobi say the 14” saw will cut a 300mm lump of tree, and I can attest to 250mm of that! No worries. I cut through a decent bit of tree with blunt blades in a video over on YouTube if you take a look at the end of this rant.
It’s got good weight and balance too - I’m sure I don’t need to tell you legends about the importance of a balanced machine.
The adjuster for the bar is very easy and kind to use. It holds the line well under load too, so it’s good to know you can get your tension right on the bar and have it stay right there too.
I found it nice and easy to pull it apart to clean when I finished the job too. It’s got sensible sized and easy to use bits that don’t seem unfamiliar to anyone who’s handled their way around a chainsaw before.
The 4aH battery was plenty for a solid hour or so of work. The 6aH battery was more than enough the following day. Given the old saw came with a 2.6-ish amp battery, both the 4 and 6aH batteries are plenty for a good day of cutting.
Easy to use - Yep!
Reasonable and evenly weighted - You got it!
Simple and tough - Sure thing!
In my opinion (for what it may be worth!) I reckon you should add this solid investment to your tool list, to be rewarded by a great and honest chainsaw.
Before you go, check out the sizes too. Ryobi have both larger and smaller size 36v chainsaws if your appetite is different!
HooRoo
Ryobi 36V Pole Pruner RPP3600
Cuts like butter! – The 36V Ryobi cordless Pole Pruner is easy to use, well weighted, has a lot of power and long battery life. The ergonomics ensure you don’t tire and it’s easy to maintain.
Honda HHC36
Excellent product i have petrol chainsaws but I take this camping no fuel 8ah battery easily does a weekend plus more cutting yellow box and redgum for the fire, can also charge off inverter in car really handy no more need for a small petrol saw
Ego Power+ 50cm Chain Saw
After regularly battling with small two stroke chainsaws that don't get a lot of use but when they're needed take 15-30 minutes of messing around to… Read more
get started, I made the switch to this electric chainsaw. It has been super convenient and a 7.5AH battery and the 50cm bar got me through the trunk of a eucalypt tree with no effort. Had the tree cut into log sized rounds and still a bit of battery to spare, only needed to use Eco mode and still cut like butter.
Good weight, not too heavy, not too light. A good all-rounder for a small acerage property. It's convenience makes it easy to whip out and use, check the bar oil, whack in a battery and tension the chain.
It doesn't seem to leak bar oil everywhere like my Stihl and Husqvarna did either.
All in all very satisfied with this product
Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7
This is actually a well made product with great safety features and a good quick charge . It can do most things and I often use it instead of a chain saw - nothing has broken and the chain adjust easy
Makita DUC306Z
A great tool – Having seen a professional with the same or similar Makita, I decided to get this. This was after I had researched what brushless meant! It's light… Read more
and much quieter than a petrol driven chain saw, so no ear muffs needed. It was safer using this to cut up all the branches left on the roof after a large branch came down. The professional did the big bits! Sooo much better than the early electric saws, which were useless. The battery lasts ages, and I still haven't sharpened it. Still need the petrol driven one for big jobs, but this is much handier for the little jobs. More inclined to get them done, too, as just need a quick oil and chain check.
Stihl GTA 40 Battery Pruner
As I am basically the carer for two significantly disabled people I do the outside work around the house eg gardening and mowing and whatever, and… Read more
for Christmas I was gifted a Stihl GTA 40 battery powered cordless pruner and advise I found it excellent and being a gift have no receipt to confirm this. A crimson bottlebrush had died and we had other shrubs to plant so I pruned the branches back until the shrub was around 1.5 metres tall and approx 300mm -450 mm thick so as to allow me to did it out and after digging and locating as many roots as possible I then cut them off in the ground to enable me to remove the dead tree trunk.
Eventually I was able to push the dead trunk over which allowed me to use the Stihl cordless pruner to cut the trunk into manageable sections and can attest the cordless pruner cut through it like butter.
The Stihl GTA 40 PATTERY POWERED cordless pruner is lightweight can be used in one hand and has safety features built in preventing accidental starting until the appropriate button is triggered, it has plenty of power and cut through the dead tree trunk in seconds
The Stihl GTA 40 battery powered cordless pruner is an excellent lightweight pruner, very safe and cuts wood easily and didn't "bounce" when activated, anyone considering a battery powered pruner should look at and consider the Stihl GTA 40
Husqvarna 120i
Outstanding chainsaw – I've previously reviewed another battery-powered chainsaw (Black & Decker's GKC 1820 L-XE) and rated it highly. I extolled its virtues for light… Read more
work on a small rural property; and back then (early days of lithium-powered tools) believed it to be quite exceptional.
Recently, we purchased two Husqvarna 120i chainsaws. I say 'we', as I convinced a mate to buy one, a few weeks after I did. He didn't need much convincing... and traded his fuel operated 'Husqie'... never to go back! These saws are exceptional... light(er), powerful and reliable. The battery lasts much longer than any of my many lithium-powered tools... and while I still own five chainsaws (three Husqvarnas and two B & Ds) the 120i is the preferred tool on our ten-acre heavily-forested block. It's ideal for pruning (clean[er] cut), light firewood... odd jobs... and even rough carpentry.
[Photo size comparison of the 120i with smaller B&D behind.]
Very happy – I've had a B&D pole saw for years. It has done so much work I'm surprised it is still alive! It is light, easy to balance, has an extension and the… Read more
blade is still the original one. The only problem I have had was finding a new battery for it just recently. I eventually found one and it's back to work!. Well done, Black and Decker.
Ozito OSC-018
A good little chainsaw for the price – Admittedly I bought this model on-line by mistake, thinking it was the PXCCSS model. After considering returning it I decided to give it a try and… Read more
was surprised at how well it performed, easily cutting the 6” melaleuca branches, if pushed hard it will cut out but just release the trigger, instant restart and just go a bit slower. I don’t understand a previous reviewer only getting 10 minutes use from the battery as I used it longer than that and still had half a charge. The charger is very slow, so I would say that this saw is best suited to short sessions of tree pruning or firewood cutting. The battery and charger are definitely the weak parts as the saw itself performed well.
Ryobi 18V ONE+ 8" Pruning Chainsaw R18CHS20
I purchased this without paying too much attention to the product as I was waiting for a replacement bar to come in for my other electric chainsaw.… Read more
When I got home I realised that there was no chain oil reservoir. In the instructions they recommend you oil the chain for longevity but without a dedicated chain lube reservoir this is a pain. It may be ok for little twigs once or twice a year but I don't recommend it if you need to use it to maintain a small garden etc. pay a little more and get something better. This is a toy and definitely not worth the price.
Ryobi 36V HP Brushless 18” R36XCHS26
I do not recommend the 36 volt ryobi chain saw. Having had 8 years of very occasional use I had to purchase a new battery only to find that Ryobi… Read more
have changed the battery design rendering my chain saw useless. I did many google searches for a solution but there is nothing. Ryobi's only solution is to buy a new chain saw. Not close to good enough. Ryobi clearly don't care about customer service. I bet my old Farm boss is still going. What a joke.
How do battery chainsaws work?
Battery chainsaws are a type of cordless electric chainsaw which get their energy from rechargeable batteries, making them both portable and easily manouverable. Unlike petrol-powered saws, they don’t require as much engine maintenance and can be used for a whole range of sawing tasks.
Battery packs typically give you about 1-2 hours of cutting time, so if you want to spend a full day sawing, make sure you come prepared with multiple batteries.
Pros and cons of a battery-powered chainsaw
Pros
Battery-powered chainsaws are generally light and compact; they work for hours and thrive when cutting small trees and doing general trimming. There’s no need to waste time and money filling up on fuel when you can just put a battery in and start cutting.
Depending on the product, these types of saws can be quite powerful while also being more suitable for use in urban areas. Compared to a petrol chainsaw, battery chainsaws are much quieter, but do keep in mind that you still need hearing protection for both tools.
Cons
On the flip side, battery chainsaws are typically the most expensive model of chainsaws, ranging from $160-700. The batteries will need time to charge before they can be used, so take that into consideration when choosing the right chainsaw for your project.
When it comes to big jobs such as timber felling for lumber or firewood, storm & disaster cleanup and commercial tree removal, you’re better off going with a gas-engine saw.
Battery chainsaw uses
Battery chainsaws can be used for a range of cutting projects.
For light pruning or hedge trimming, a bar length of up to 40 cm (16") would be appropriate, and for medium chainsaw work such as small tree felling, trimming and cross-cutting, a bar up to 50 cm (20") in length is ideal.
For all other heavy sawing, like tree-felling, saw-log prep and milling, a bar longer than 50 cm is usually required.
Generally, the chainsaw bar should be 5cm (2”) longer than the thickness of what it is you want to cut - most models of chainsaws allow you to swap blades to accommodate different tasks.
Safety factors to consider when using a chainsaw
Safety is an important factor to consider when using all chainsaws. You should make sure you're properly equipped with head, toe, eye and ear protection and have a pair of heavy-duty gloves to operate your saw. Battery-powered chainsaws have no cables to trip over and fewer noise safety concerns compared to petrol and corded chainsaws. However, making sure your chainsaw is the right weight and size for you is critical to using it safely.
Features to look out for
Tool-free chain tensioning: This is a great feature which saves you from retensioning the chain manually with tools. It is usually found in a quick thumb wheel format.
Chain brake: This stops the chain from rotating around the bar and is an important safety tool to keep you protected. It can be triggered by pushing the handle forward or when the saw kicks back.
Automatic chain oiling/lubrication: Some chainsaws come with automatic oilers which allow you to adjust the flow rate of the bar oil. The lubricant is released automatically when cutting and can be adjusted depending on your needs.
Anti-vibrating system: This feature makes your chainsaw works much smoother and improves your control of it, also acting as a safety feature.
Quick/easy start: Starting the chainsaw can be made a lot easier with an additional spring between the crankshaft and the starter rope rotor.
Carrying case: If you need to transport your chainsaw to many different locations, you should look for a chainsaw with a carrying case to make that process easier.
You can read reviews on the best battery chainsaws on the market today on our website.